Ready to use grow bags and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

An elongated bag for use as a ready-to-use grow bag. The bag is manufactured as an elongated plastic body with a sealed bottom and a sealable top. The bag includes one or more gussets defined by folds in the bag and a score line for a tear strip in an area sufficiently below the top and above the fill material to allow the bag to lie flat for transportation and deploy into a cylinder for planting. The bag includes drain holes near the bottom of the bag and microperforations along the bag for respiration.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bag for use as a ready-to-use grow bag comprising:
 an elongated body comprising a plastic material having a side wall defining a tubular body with a closed bottom and sealable top end; 
 one or more gussets defined by folds in said side wall; 
 a plurality of drain holes provided in said side wall in an area proximal to said closed bottom; 
 a tear strip provided in an area below said sealable top end; wherein said tear strip is provided in an area that is below the sealable top end; and 
 wherein when filled for use as a grow bag the elongated body lies flat for shipping. 
 
     
     
       2. The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said gussets are side gussets. 
     
     
       3. The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said gussets are bottom gussets. 
     
     
       4. The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said side wall includes microperforations. 
     
     
       5. The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said bag before filling has a length of approximately 21 inches, a width of approximately 9 inches and a score line defined approximately 6 inches from the top of said bag. 
     
     
       6. The bag of  claim 5 , wherein said side gussets are approximately 7.25 inches. 
     
     
       7. The bag of  claim 6  wherein said drain holes are located in an area within 5 inches of said closed bottom. 
     
     
       8. The bag of  claim 7 , wherein after deployment said bag has a height of approximately 10 inches and a diameter of more than 10 inches. 
     
     
       9. The bag of  claim 8 , wherein after deployment said drain holes are positioned at the bottom of the bag. 
     
     
       10. A grow bag comprising:
 a continuous sidewall comprising a plastic material defining a fillable cavity with a closed bottom and open top adapted for heat sealing; 
 a score line that is used as a tear strip to open the bag; 
 one or more gussets configured to lay flat for shipping and deploy at planting; said gussets allowing the bag to be manufactured and shipped in a rectangular form that is deployable as a cylinder for use when planting; said bag configured elongated to allow sealing said top after filling with grow media and allowing said bag to lay relatively flat for palletization. 
 
     
     
       11. The bag of  claim 10 , wherein said gussets are side gussets. 
     
     
       12. The bag of  claim 10 , wherein said gussets are bottom gussets. 
     
     
       13. The bag of  claim 10 , wherein said side wall includes microperforations. 
     
     
       14. The bag of  claim 10 , wherein said bag before filling has a length of approximately 21 inches, a width of approximately 9 inches and a score line defined approximately 6 inches from the top of said bag. 
     
     
       15. The bag of  claim 14 , wherein said side gussets are approximately 7.25 inches. 
     
     
       16. The bag of  claim 15 , wherein said drain holes are located in an area within 5 inches of said closed bottom. 
     
     
       17. The bag of  claim 16 , wherein after deployment said bag has a height of approximately 10 inches and a diameter of more than 10 inches. 
     
     
       18. The bag of  claim 17 , wherein after deployment said drain holes are positioned at the bottom of the bag. 
     
     
       19. The bag of  claim 17 , wherein after deployment at least some of said drain holes are positioned on the side of the bag. 
     
     
       20. A grow bag comprising:
 an elongated plastic body having a side wall defining a tubular body with a closed bottom and sealable end, said side wall including at least one gusset; 
 a tear strip defined below said sealable end; 
 a plurality of breathing holes in said side wall; and, 
 a fill material deposited in said tubular body before sealing said sealable end; wherein said grow bag lies flat for shipping and expands via activation of said gussets into a self-standing cylinder.